The Course
Parkland golf, matured over forty years
Eighteen holes laid out by Donald Steel in 1986, rolling across 180 acres of Hertfordshire parkland just inside the M25, on the edge of north London.
18
Holes
72
Par
6,376
Yards (white)
180
Acres of parkland
A Donald Steel design
A Donald Steel design, maturing since 1986
Three sets of tees mean you can stretch the course to its full 6,376 yards or play a kinder day, and either way you walk it through mature trees and open sky rather than past the back of a retail park.The back nine is where it bites. Streams and ponds sit on the line on several holes, so the safe shot is rarely the obvious one. Fairways are marked at 100, 150, and 200 yards to take the guesswork out of your approach, and there are walking trails around the grounds for anyone who wants the air without the eighteen holes.
From the air
The course on a June evening
Filmed from the drone as the sun went down: the tree-lined fairways, the lake holes and the greens, finishing behind the main building.
The course tour
All eighteen holes, hole by hole
The Hertsmere’s own photography of every hole, with the numbers that matter off each tee. Hover or tap any hole for the yardages.
The front nine
Hole 1
Hole 1
Par 4 · 409 yards
An honest opener: a full par four straight off the first tee, so warm up on the range first.
- White
- 409
- Yellow
- 384
- Red
- 344
- S.I.
- 7
Par 4 · 409 yards
An honest opener: a full par four straight off the first tee, so warm up on the range first.
- White
- 409
- Yellow
- 384
- Red
- 344
- S.I.
- 7
Hole 2
Hole 2
Par 4 · 354 yards
A mid-length four that rewards position over power. Fairway found, the card starts kindly.
- White
- 354
- Yellow
- 347
- Red
- 330
- S.I.
- 11
Par 4 · 354 yards
A mid-length four that rewards position over power. Fairway found, the card starts kindly.
- White
- 354
- Yellow
- 347
- Red
- 330
- S.I.
- 11
Hole 3
Hole 3
Par 4 · 440 yards
The longest four on the front nine and stroke index 3. Take your par and walk away smiling.
- White
- 440
- Yellow
- 400
- Red
- 387
- S.I.
- 3
Par 4 · 440 yards
The longest four on the front nine and stroke index 3. Take your par and walk away smiling.
- White
- 440
- Yellow
- 400
- Red
- 387
- S.I.
- 3
Hole 4
Hole 4
Par 3 · 166 yards
First of the short holes. One good swing with a mid iron and the putter does the rest.
- White
- 166
- Yellow
- 161
- Red
- 146
- S.I.
- 15
Par 3 · 166 yards
First of the short holes. One good swing with a mid iron and the putter does the rest.
- White
- 166
- Yellow
- 161
- Red
- 146
- S.I.
- 15
Hole 5
Hole 5
Par 5 · 534 yards
The first five, and a genuine three-shotter for most. Pick your lay-up line and commit.
- White
- 534
- Yellow
- 514
- Red
- 472
- S.I.
- 5
Par 5 · 534 yards
The first five, and a genuine three-shotter for most. Pick your lay-up line and commit.
- White
- 534
- Yellow
- 514
- Red
- 472
- S.I.
- 5
Hole 6
Hole 6
Par 4 · 354 yards
A four you can attack. Drive it well and you are looking at a short iron in.
- White
- 354
- Yellow
- 343
- Red
- 306
- S.I.
- 9
Par 4 · 354 yards
A four you can attack. Drive it well and you are looking at a short iron in.
- White
- 354
- Yellow
- 343
- Red
- 306
- S.I.
- 9
Hole 7
Hole 7
Par 4 · 277 yards
A drivable four for the brave. The percentage play is an iron and a wedge; the fun play is not.
- White
- 277
- Yellow
- 274
- Red
- 265
- S.I.
- 17
Par 4 · 277 yards
A drivable four for the brave. The percentage play is an iron and a wedge; the fun play is not.
- White
- 277
- Yellow
- 274
- Red
- 265
- S.I.
- 17
Hole 8
Hole 8
Par 4 · 422 yards
Stroke index 1 off every tee. Long, honest and the hole the course asks you to earn.
- White
- 422
- Yellow
- 411
- Red
- 394
- S.I.
- 1
Par 4 · 422 yards
Stroke index 1 off every tee. Long, honest and the hole the course asks you to earn.
- White
- 422
- Yellow
- 411
- Red
- 394
- S.I.
- 1
Hole 9
Hole 9
Par 5 · 539 yards
The longest hole on the card brings you back towards the main building. Three good blows home.
- White
- 539
- Yellow
- 459
- Red
- 432
- S.I.
- 13
Par 5 · 539 yards
The longest hole on the card brings you back towards the main building. Three good blows home.
- White
- 539
- Yellow
- 459
- Red
- 432
- S.I.
- 13
The back nine
Hole 10
Hole 10
Par 3 · 197 yards
A long three to open the back nine. Par here feels like a birdie.
- White
- 197
- Yellow
- 184
- Red
- 153
- S.I.
- 8
Par 3 · 197 yards
A long three to open the back nine. Par here feels like a birdie.
- White
- 197
- Yellow
- 184
- Red
- 153
- S.I.
- 8
Hole 11
Hole 11
Par 3 · 141 yards
The shortest hole on the course, and the prettiest. All about the right club, not the big one.
- White
- 141
- Yellow
- 127
- Red
- 116
- S.I.
- 16
Par 3 · 141 yards
The shortest hole on the course, and the prettiest. All about the right club, not the big one.
- White
- 141
- Yellow
- 127
- Red
- 116
- S.I.
- 16
Hole 12
Hole 12
Par 4 · 294 yards
A short four with a decision off the tee. Position beats distance every time here.
- White
- 294
- Yellow
- 284
- Red
- 249
- S.I.
- 12
Par 4 · 294 yards
A short four with a decision off the tee. Position beats distance every time here.
- White
- 294
- Yellow
- 284
- Red
- 249
- S.I.
- 12
Hole 13
Hole 13
Par 4 · 423 yards
Stroke index 2 and every yard of it. Two of your best and the green still takes some finding.
- White
- 423
- Yellow
- 417
- Red
- 367
- S.I.
- 2
Par 4 · 423 yards
Stroke index 2 and every yard of it. Two of your best and the green still takes some finding.
- White
- 423
- Yellow
- 417
- Red
- 367
- S.I.
- 2
Hole 14
Hole 14
Par 4 · 349 yards
Mid-length but stroke index 4, so the number on the card undersells it. Respect it.
- White
- 349
- Yellow
- 338
- Red
- 311
- S.I.
- 4
Par 4 · 349 yards
Mid-length but stroke index 4, so the number on the card undersells it. Respect it.
- White
- 349
- Yellow
- 338
- Red
- 311
- S.I.
- 4
Hole 15
Hole 15
Par 5 · 476 yards
A reachable five for the brave; lay up sensibly and a birdie putt is still on.
- White
- 476
- Yellow
- 461
- Red
- 343
- S.I.
- 14
Par 5 · 476 yards
A reachable five for the brave; lay up sensibly and a birdie putt is still on.
- White
- 476
- Yellow
- 461
- Red
- 343
- S.I.
- 14
Hole 16
Hole 16
Par 4 · 244 yards
The shortest four on the card and stroke index 18. A genuine birdie chance late in the round.
- White
- 244
- Yellow
- 237
- Red
- 209
- S.I.
- 18
Par 4 · 244 yards
The shortest four on the card and stroke index 18. A genuine birdie chance late in the round.
- White
- 244
- Yellow
- 237
- Red
- 209
- S.I.
- 18
Hole 17
Hole 17
Par 4 · 332 yards
The penultimate test. Keep it in play and set up a strong finish.
- White
- 332
- Yellow
- 304
- Red
- 297
- S.I.
- 10
Par 4 · 332 yards
The penultimate test. Keep it in play and set up a strong finish.
- White
- 332
- Yellow
- 304
- Red
- 297
- S.I.
- 10
Hole 18
Hole 18
Par 4 · 425 yards
A big closing four back to the main building, with the Script balcony watching you in.
- White
- 425
- Yellow
- 408
- Red
- 343
- S.I.
- 6
Par 4 · 425 yards
A big closing four back to the main building, with the Script balcony watching you in.
- White
- 425
- Yellow
- 408
- Red
- 343
- S.I.
- 6
The scorecard
The full scorecard, all three tees
White and yellow tees play par 72; the red card plays par 75 with its own stroke indexes.
Swipe the card to see every column →
| Hole | White | Yellow | Par | S.I. | Red | Par | S.I. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 409 | 384 | 4 | 7 | 344 | 4 | 7 |
| 2 | 354 | 347 | 4 | 11 | 330 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | 440 | 400 | 4 | 3 | 387 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 166 | 161 | 3 | 15 | 146 | 3 | 17 |
| 5 | 534 | 514 | 5 | 5 | 472 | 5 | 3 |
| 6 | 354 | 343 | 4 | 9 | 306 | 4 | 11 |
| 7 | 277 | 274 | 4 | 17 | 265 | 4 | 15 |
| 8 | 422 | 411 | 4 | 1 | 394 | 5 | 1 |
| 9 | 539 | 459 | 5 | 13 | 432 | 5 | 13 |
| Out | 3,495 | 3,293 | 37 | 3,076 | 39 | ||
| 10 | 197 | 184 | 3 | 8 | 153 | 3 | 14 |
| 11 | 141 | 127 | 3 | 16 | 116 | 3 | 18 |
| 12 | 294 | 284 | 4 | 12 | 249 | 4 | 10 |
| 13 | 423 | 417 | 4 | 2 | 367 | 5 | 2 |
| 14 | 349 | 338 | 4 | 4 | 311 | 4 | 4 |
| 15 | 476 | 461 | 5 | 14 | 343 | 5 | 12 |
| 16 | 244 | 237 | 4 | 18 | 209 | 4 | 16 |
| 17 | 332 | 304 | 4 | 10 | 297 | 4 | 8 |
| 18 | 425 | 408 | 4 | 6 | 343 | 4 | 6 |
| In | 2,881 | 2,760 | 35 | 2,388 | 36 | ||
| Total | 6,376 | 6,053 | 72 | 5,464 | 75 |
Golf without the gatekeeping
No proposer, no seconder, no waiting list. Turn up, pay your green fee and play. This is the home of family golf, and we mean it.
Turn up and play
You will not be asked who proposed you or what your handicap is. Book a tee time and the course is yours, seven days a week, weekend mornings included. The best rates are always online; phone rates cost more.
It holds up when the weather does not
The drainage work is the reason regulars keep coming back through winter. When the rest of the county is closed or under casual water, the greens here stay true and the fairways stay playable. For a parkland course in a wet month, that is the whole game.
A welcome you will notice
Reviewers name the staff by name, from the front desk to the first tee. First round or hundredth, the people here make it easy.
The whole day in one place
Hit a bucket on the 26-bay Toptracer range to find your swing, play your eighteen, then take a seat on the Script balcony looking back over the course. You can do the lot without moving the car.
Course condition
Greens that hold up when the weather does not
Plenty of parkland courses are a write-off from November to March. Ours is not, and the reason is years of money spent below ground on drainage. True greens and dry footing are what bring golfers back when the rest of the county is closed or under casual water.We will be straight with you: the fairways are at their best in season, and winter is winter. But the greens stay true, and the proof is in who keeps booking. The Hertsmere holds a 4.4 from 385 Google reviews and a 93% would-recommend on Golfshake.
4.4
Google rating (385 reviews)
93%
Golfshake would recommend
7
Days a week, visitors welcome
Sort the round before you arrive
Before you book: the common questions
No. The Hertsmere is pay-and-play, with visitors welcome seven days a week, weekend mornings included. Book online for the best green-fee rates; the phone rate costs more. If you play often, the points-based Flexi membership starts at £300 for 120 points.
Play it
The best way to learn the course is to play it.
Pay and play, seven days a week. Book online and the price you see is the price you pay.